Method for ensuring symmetric audio quality for hands-free phoning

Abstract

A hearing device includes a processor and a wireless transceiver operatively connected with the processor and configured to connect via a wireless link with a remote device and to exchange bi-directional audio packets with the remote device. The processor is configured to monitor an audio link quality and adapt a transmit power of the hearing device as a function of the audio link quality.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hearing device comprising:
 a processor; and   a wireless transceiver operatively connected with the processor, the wireless transceiver being configured to connect via a wireless link with at least one remote device, being configured to exchange bi-directional audio packets with the remote device over a Bluetooth transport, and being configured to provide a transmit count and/or a successful receive count indicating how many attempts have occurred to transmit and receive audio packets, respectively, wherein:   a transmit power of the remote device is larger than a transmit power of the hearing device, and   the processor is configured to:
 use the transmit count and/or the successful receive count provided by the transceiver to estimate an outgoing audio link packet error rate of a transmission from the hearing device to the at least one remote device via the wireless link, and 
 increase a transmit power of the hearing device when the outgoing audio link packet error rate exceeds a first pre-determined threshold, and 
   wherein the Bluetooth transport is isochronous and the wireless transceiver is configured to provide a transmit count and/or a successful receive count after every isochronous interval.   
     
     
         2 . The hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is part of the wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         3 . The hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless link follows a Hands-Free Profile (“HFP”) of the Bluetooth specification. 
     
     
         4 . The hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the wireless link is configured to use an Enhanced Synchronous connection-oriented (“eSCO”) transport option of the Bluetooth specification or another isochronous transport option of the Bluetooth specification. 
     
     
         5 . The hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the audio link packet error rate is estimated by monitoring a number of necessary retransmissions from the hearing device towards the remote device. 
     
     
         6 . The hearing device according to  claim 1 , wherein the audio link packet error rate is estimated by monitoring acknowledgements transmitted by the remote device related to audio packets received by the remote device. 
     
     
         7 . A hearing device comprising:
 a processor; and   a wireless transceiver operatively connected with the processor, the wireless transceiver being configured to connect via a wireless link with at least one remote device, being configured to exchange bi-directional audio packets with the remote device over a Bluetooth transport, and being configured to provide a transmit count and/or a successful receive count indicating how many attempts have occurred to transmit and receive audio packets, respectively, wherein:   the processor is configured to:
 use the transmit count and/or the successful receive count provided by the transceiver to monitor an outgoing audio link packet error rate, and 
 increase a transmit power of the hearing device when the outgoing audio link packet error rate exceeds a first pre-determined threshold, and 
   wherein the Bluetooth transport is isochronous and the wireless transceiver is configured to provide a transmit count and/or a successful receive count after every isochronous interval.   
     
     
         8 . The hearing device according to  claim 7 , wherein the processor is part of the wireless transceiver. 
     
     
         9 . The hearing device according to  claim 7 , wherein the remote device is at least one of a mobile phone, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (“DECT”) phone, a landline phone, a tablet, or a computer. 
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling an audio quality in a hearing device comprising a processor and a wireless transceiver operatively connected with the processor, the wireless transceiver being configured to connect via a wireless link with a remote device, the method comprising:
 providing a transmit count and/or successful receive count,   using the transmit count and/or the successful receive count provided by the transceiver to estimate an outgoing audio link packet error rate of a transmission via the wireless link, and   increasing a transmit power of the hearing device when the outgoing audio link packet error rate exceeds a first pre-determined threshold,   wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to exchange bi-directional audio packets with the remote device over a Bluetooth transport, and   wherein the Bluetooth transport is isochronous and the wireless transceiver is configured to provide a transmit count and/or a successful receive count after every isochronous interval.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein estimating the audio link packet error rate comprises monitoring a number of necessary retransmissions from the hearing device towards the remote device or monitoring acknowledgements transmitted by the remote device related to the audio packets received by the remote device from the hearing device. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 generating and sending a notification when the audio link packet error rate exceeds a pre-determined threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the notification comprises at least one of a single beep, a beep sequence, artificially degrading an incoming audio quality, or muting incoming audio. 
     
     
         14 . A method for controlling an audio quality in a hearing device comprising a processor and a wireless transceiver operatively connected with the processor, the wireless transceiver being configured to connect via a wireless link with a remote device, the method comprising:
 providing a transmit count and/or successful receive count,   estimating an outgoing audio link packet error rate of a transmission from the hearing device to the at least one remote device via the wireless link based on the transmit count and/or the successful receive count, and
 increasing a transmit power of the hearing device when the outgoing audio link packet error rate exceeds a first pre-determined threshold, 
   wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to exchange bi-directional audio packets with the remote device over a Bluetooth transport, and   wherein the Bluetooth transport is isochronous and the wireless transceiver is configured to provide a transmit count and/or a successful receive count after every isochronous interval.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the notification comprises at least one of a single beep, a beep sequence, artificially degrading an incoming audio quality, or muting incoming audio.